The Winnipeg Jets have a new coach and a different direction heading into the 2022-23 season.
After missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in five seasons, the Jets are hopeful they can turn things around quickly. Following an exhaustive search that featured at least five candidates, Rick Bowness was hired as coach July 3. The 67-year-old began his NHL coaching career as an assistant with the Jets in 1984-85 and holds the record with 2,562 games in the League as a head or assistant coach. He led the Dallas Stars to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final and was 46-30-6 with them last season.
"I wasn't interested in going to a rebuild," Bowness said. "This team has a great young goalie in Connor Hellebuyck], a good defense, we've got some great offensive forwards. Are there some things we're going to have to change? Absolutely."
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Paul Maurice resigned as Jets coach 29 games into the 2021-22 season Dec. 17. Winnipeg was 13-11-5 at the time. Dave Lowry replaced Maurice on an interim basis and went 26-22-6.
"When we played them last year, there was something missing; you could feel it and you could see it," Bowness said. "I'm not getting into it because I wasn't here. It just got derailed a little bit. But if you go back and you look at the roster, how competitive they were for a while, it's there.
"They know they're better than they were last year. The players I've spoken with are very excited to get back on the ice and prove they're a better team than they were last year."
The Jets lost center Paul Stastny to the Carolina Hurricanes as an unrestricted free agent, but they are expecting an injection of talent from their prospect pool.
Winnipeg sees a chance for Cole Perfetti, a first-round pick (No. 10) at the 2020 NHL Draft, to secure a top-six forward role. Perfetti had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 18 games as a rookie for the Jets in 2021-22 before a back injury ended his season.
"We're excited to see him at training camp this year," Jets director of amateur scouting Mark Hillier said. "Hopefully the injury is behind him and he can establish himself in that offensive role with the team and really give us that shot in the arm of skill on those top two lines."
Defenseman Ville Heinola, selected in the first round (No. 20) of the 2019 NHL Draft, could also emerge. The 21-year-old had five assists in 12 games for the Jets last season, and 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) in 41 games with Mantioba of the American Hockey League.
"I hope this year is a breakout year for him," Hillier said. "He's put his time in in the American Hockey League and has been a really good player there, and I think it's his time to make the jump and really see what he's got this year."
Winnipeg signed veteran goalie David Rittich to a one-year contract July 13, hoping to balance the workload. Hellebuyck started the second-most games in the NHL last season (66) and led the League in shots against (2,155) and saves (1,962).
Forward Sam Gagner enters his 16th NHL season after the 33-year-old signed a one-year contract Sept. 2 to add scoring depth to the bottom six. He had 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists) in 81 games for the Detroit Red Wings last season.
Cheveldayoff wasn't able to sign forward Pierre-Luc Dubois to a long-term extension, instead agreeing to a one-year contract with the restricted free agent. Forwards Evgeny Svechnikov (San Jose Sharks) and Kristian Vesalainen (Malmo in the Swedish Hockey League) have departed, and goalie Eric Comrie signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
So, with the majority of the roster returning, it's up to Bowness to find a way to get the Jets back in the playoffs.
"Rick is a guy that is going to come in here, and it's not a 'my way or the highway,' but it's a strong approach to getting this team back on track," Cheveldayoff said. "Rick is the type of guy that is up for this challenge."
